Automatic fire-extinguisher



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. J. FRASER.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHBR.

Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

(No Model.) `3 sheetsfsheef, 2.

W. J. FRASER. AUTOMATIC: PIRE BXTINGUISHBR.

No. 439,294. Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

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(No Model.)` 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

- W. J. FRASER.

, AUTOMATIG PIRE BXTINGUISHBR. No. 439,294. Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

""llllllllllllillllIl UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE..

VILLIAM J. FRASER, 0F MILWAUKEE, VISCONSIN,

AUTOMATIC.FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,294, dated October 28, 1890.

Application filed September 6, 1889- Seral No. 323,216. (No-model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. FRASER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fire-Extinguishers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this speciiication.

This invention relates to such systems of automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus as embody a series of pipes suitably supplied with water under pressure and led along the ceilings of rooms to be protected, such pipes being provided at intervals with sprinklerheads. These sprinkler-heads are some form of device designed to automatically open the pipes for the admission of water to the room, and usually embody some special means for spreading or distributing the water issuing from the pipes. Said 'sprinkler-heads are applied beneath or above or at the side of the pipes extending horizontally along the ceilings.

My improved sprinkler-head is shown in a portion of the drawings as applied beneath f the horizontal pipes, and in a portion of the drawings as being applied above said pipes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side view of a portion of the water-pipe and the sprinkler-head. Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and are views of other forms of the sprinkler-head. Fig. 7 is a side view of another form of sprinkler-head applied below the horizontal waterp IBeferring to Fig. l, A is a portion of the pipe running along the ceiling. B is a T- joint in said pipe, having an upward-directed branch B', into which is threaded a branch pipe B2. The branch B and the branch pipe B2 may be unitary. C is the frame of the sprinkler-head. D is the valve resting over the opening of the pipe B2. E is a fixed arm extending from the frame C inward and over the valve D. F is a movable arm arranged and is designed to be released by the action of the expansion device G. The piston G of l from the pipe B2 and at the side of the frame C. The entire arm thus constructed resembles a bell-crank, and if the horizontal arm is pressed downward the upright portion which engages the valve D will be thrown laterally out of engagement with said valve. Said ex-` pansion device may be any form of appliance which will move a movable part downward against the horizontal portion of the arm F.

The device shown in the drawings consists of a chamber open at one end, through which opening extends the piston G. The space within the chamber behind the piston is filled with a suitable expansive material, which increases in volume when subjected to abnormal heat and drives the piston forward. The said expansion device is shown as applied at the side of the frame C; but it may be otherwise secured or it may be cast as a part of the side of said frame. The frame C is to be threaded upon the pipe B2, as shown in Fig. 1, so that after the parts are `approximately set. the frame may be turned so as to be forced down upon the pipe B2 until the arms E and F firmly engage the valve D and force it againstI the mouth of the pipe B2.

In Fig. 2 the frame C, arm E, and valve D are similar to those shown in Fig. l. The arm E is hinged at F by its lower end, whence it extends upward to a level with the upper Y will remain in engagement with the valve-D until the upper portion of lsaid arm is moved to the left. This occurs when the expansion device forces its movable part-namely, its piston-against the upper end of said arm.

The form shown in Fig. 3 resembles that shown in Fig. 2. The frame G, the valve D, the arm F., and the expansion device G are located as in said Fig. 2. The arm F is, however, inverted, its upper end being hinged to the frame C at F', above the piston G', while the lower end is free and arranged to engage the valve D. Said arm F has near its lower end a shoulder f directed toward the valve D, and an arm B extends outward from said valve D, and engages said shoulder f from below. When thus combined, said arm F will prevent the rising of the valve D, and said arm F and the arm E will together bind said valve D upon the pipe B2. It is obvious from an inspection of the drawings that when the piston'G is driven to the left the lower portion of the arm F will be forced to the left out of disengagelnent with the arm d. It will be seen, also, that the lower end of the arm F may rest upon the arm d. Said arm might also be hinged directly above the upper edge of the valve D, and extend downward and rest directly upon said edge, as indicated by dotted lines in said Fig. 3. This would require the expansion device to be located farther to the right.

In Fig. at all the parts, excepting the arm F, are in the same position as shown in Fig. 3. Said arm is hinged at F', near its middle, to the side of the valve D. The upper end of said arm is free and `stands in front of the piston G. The opposite end of said arm ex- -tends downward along the side of the frame C, and is bent to the left at its lower end to extend beneath a lug C', standing outI from the frame C. By engagement with said lug said arm and the valve D are held down. Then the piston G is driven forward, the upper end of the arm F is thrown to the left, and the lower end of said arm to the right, out of engagement with the lug C. This treesV said arm and the valve D.

In Fig. 5 the arm F is again hinged at F by its upper end to the upper portion of the frame C but its lower end does not make direct engagement with the valve D. The expansion device G is arranged horizontally at a little distance above the valve D, and is held from the latter by a post G2. At the right the upper face of said expansion device is engaged by the arm E. At the left the arm F extends from its hinge downward into contact with the expansion device Gand then extends to the left and downward, and

then to the right, so that its lower end is also in contact, or nearly so, with the expansion device. The bend to the right at the lower end of said arm is, however, not essential. The device may be operated by merely extending the arm F downward in front of the piston after it has been bent to the left from the upper face of the expansion device. In this position the arms F and E bear down upon the expansion device at opposite sides of the post G2, and Vthe latter presses the valve D against the pipe B2. When the pistou G is driven forward, the arm F is forced to the left and out of engagement with the expansion device, so that the latter is free to fall and allow the valve D to be thrownl off by the water-pressure. The post G2 might be omitted and the expansion device placed directly upon the valve D and the armsE and F prolonged to hold said expansion device upon the valve D. I prefer, however, to use the post, for the reason thatit removes the expansion device from the cooling effect of the water in the pipe B2. Said post G2 may be a distinct piece or may be attached to the valve D or expansion device G.

In Fig. 6 the arm F is not hinged to the frame C, but is applied rigidly and extended down from the piston G' and bent to the right at its lower end to rest against the lower side of a lug C', similar to the lug C shown in Fig. 4. The other parts of this sprinkler-head are similar to those shown in Fig. 5. It will be readily understood that the expansion device is by this means held down at the left until the piston is driven forward. In that event the piston in moving forward toward the left carries the arm F toward the left and forces it out of engagement with the lug O, so that the expansion device is freed from the post G2, the valve D being thereupon free to be thrown off by the pressure of water within the pipe B2.

In Fig. 7 the sprinkler-head is hung' below the pipe A and the arm F depends from the outer end of the piston, as in Fig. 6; but it is not bent laterally at its lower end. It rests directly by its lower end upon the bar C2, which latter is applied to the side of the frame C in a manner similar to the application of the lug C Ashown in Fig. 6. Said bar C2 is, however, pivoted at its middle at c2 in such manner as to allow it to turn in a vertical plane. The object in providing tor this movement of the bar C2 is to provide for a bearing for the right end of the chamber of the expansion device, so as to prevent the binding of the piston by placing all ot' the strain upon it. The left or inner end of the bar C2 is bent upward or otherwise arranged to rest against the lower side of said chamber of the expansion device, while the outer or right end of said bar rests against the lower end of the arm F. Being in this relation, the direct pressure of said chamber tends to depress the left end of the bar C2, while the arm F tends to depress the right end of said bar, and neither end of said bar can be depressed without raising the other end thereof. Consequently the two are held at rest so long as they remain in engagement. The forward movement ot' the piston G will move the arm F to the right until it slips from the right end ot' the bar C2, and allows said end of said bar to ascend while the opposite end descends, thereby releasing said expansion device and allowing it to fall from its position, which IOO IIO

movement of the expansion device allows the valve D to fall. If the bar C were treated as a stationary support, all of the strain at the right of the expansion device would be upon the piston, as is the case in the form shown in Fig. 6. It is to be observed that in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 the support or resistance of the arm E is from the frame C, and is transmitted by the arm E. In the other gures said arm transmits said resistance directly to the valve D, while in the last three figures said resistance is transmitted by said arm through the expansion device. In each case the arm E is a stationary part of the frame constituting a portion of the support for the valve. In all the figures the arm F constitutes another portion of l[he support for the 4valve D, and is arranged to be dislodged by the movement of the movable part of an expansion device.

In Fig. 6, H isa deieetor appliedas a part of the upper portion of the frame C. The purpose of this is to distribute the Water laterally as it issues from the pipe B2. Similar deiiectors maybe applied in any suitable Way to the forms shown by the other figures.

I claim as my inventionp l. In a fire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination, with a water-supply pipe having an opening for the delivery of water, of a frame C, applied to said pipe, a valve placed over said opening, a part supported by said frame and constituting a portion of the support of said valve and a movable :member constituting another portion of the support of the valve, and an expansion device having a suitable part arranged to dislodge said movable member, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a iireextinguishing apparatus, the combination, with a Water-supply pipe having an opening for the delivery of Water, of a frame C, applied to said pipe, a valve placed over said opening, a part supported by said frame and constituting a support for said valve at one side of the latter and amovable arm constituting a support for said valve at the opposite side of the latter, and an expansion device having a movable part arranged to dislodge said movable arm, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a fire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination, with a Water-supply pipe having an opening for the delivery of Water, of a frame C, applied to said pipe, a valve placed over said opening, a part supported by said frame and constituting a support for said valve at one side of the latter and a hinged arm constituting a support for said valve at vthe opposite side of the latter, and an expansion device having Va movable part arranged to dislodge said movable arm, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a lire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination, with the pipe A and branch pipe B2, communicating with said pipe A, of a frame C, threaded upon the pipe B2, a valve placed over the end of the pipe B2, a part supported by said frame and constituting a support for said valve at one side of the latter and a hinged arm supported by said frame and constituting a support for said valve at the opposite side of the latter, and an eXpansion device having a movable part arranged to dislodge said movable arm, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a lire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination, with the pipe A and branch pipe B2, communicating with said pipe A, of a frame C, threaded upon said pipe B2, an arm E, extending from said frame C and resting against the outer face of the valve D at one side, an arm F, pivoted to the frame C at the opposite side of said valve and engaging the latter and having a free end, and an expansion device supported by said frame and having a movable part directed toward said free end, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses, this 20th day of August, 1889.

WILLIAM J. FRASER.

Witnesses: f

AMBRosE RIsnoN, CYRUS KEHR. 

